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Finite Verbs – Quiz 1
Finite Verbs Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of finite verbs, including their use in conditional sentences and continuous tenses. It also assesses the ability to distinguish between finite and non-finite verbs, identify correct verb forms, and understand subject-verb agreement.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
In the sentence "The children playing in the park are happy, " which word is a non-finite verb?
A) Happy.
B) Children.
C) Playing.
D) Are.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The word "playing" is a non-finite verb, specifically a gerund in this sentence. It functions as the subject complement describing what the children are doing.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Happy is an adjective describing the state of the children.
Option B:
Children is the subject of the sentence.
Option C:
Playing is a non-finite verb, functioning as a gerund here.
Option D:
Are is a finite verb, used to form the present tense and agree with the plural subject "children."
2.
Considering his love for rides, Josh chose Fangte.
A) Active voice.
B) Passive voice.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Considering his love for rides, Josh chose Fangte." is in active voice because the subject (Josh) performs the action (chose).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The sentence uses an active voice where the subject performs the action.
Option B:
Incorrect. The sentence is not in passive voice, which would require a form of "to be" plus a past participle to describe the action.
Option C:
Incorrect. Only Option A is correct.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
3.
Which word is finite verb?"To err is human, to forgive, divine."
A) To forgive.
B) Divine.
C) To err.
D) Human.
E) Is.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The finite verb in the sentence "To err is human, to forgive, divine." is
is
. A finite verb must agree with its subject and can stand alone as a predicate. In this case, "is" agrees with the subject "err," which is an infinitive form of the verb "to err." The other options are not finite verbs because they do not function independently in terms of agreement or tense.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"To forgive" is an infinitive and does not stand alone as a predicate.
Option B:
"Divine" is a noun and not a verb form that can function independently.
Option C:
"To err" is an infinitive and does not stand alone as a predicate.
Option D:
"Human" is an adjective and not a verb form that can function independently.
Option E:
"Is" is the finite verb, agreeing with its subject "err."
4.
Identify the non-finite verb: "She asked me to help her."
A) To help.
B) Asked.
C) Me.
D) Her.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The non-finite verb in the sentence "She asked me to help her" is
To help
. Non-finite verbs are not conjugated according to tense, person, and number, and they do not function as the main verb of a clause. In this case, "To help" functions as an infinitive phrase modifying "asked."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "To help" is a non-finite verb in its infinitive form.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Asked" is the finite verb, conjugated according to tense and subject.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Me" is an object pronoun, not a verb.
Option D:
Incorrect. "Her" is a possessive pronoun, not a verb.
5.
Choose the non-finite verb:The boy kept laughing.
A) Boy.
B) The.
C) Kept.
D) Laughing.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The non-finite verb in the sentence "The boy kept laughing" is
laughing
. Non-finite verbs include infinitives (e.g., to laugh), gerunds (e.g., laughing), and participles (e.g., laughed). In this case, "laughing" functions as a verbal noun or gerund.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Boy - Noun.
Option B:
The - Article.
Option C:
Kept - Finite verb (past tense of keep).
Option D:
Laughing - Non-finite verb (gerund).
6.
She decided ..... a new job.
A) Finding.
B) Find.
C) To find.
D) Found.
Show Answer
Explanations:
To find is the correct answer because it uses a to-infinitive, which functions as a purpose clause in this context. In English grammar, infinitives are often used after verbs like decide, plan, and want when expressing intentions or purposes.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Finding is a gerund (a verb form that functions as a noun). It does not fit the purpose clause requirement here.
Option B:
Find is an infinitive without 'to', which typically follows certain verbs but doesn't work well with decide in this context.
Option C:
To find uses a to-infinitive, correctly expressing her intention or purpose after deciding. This is the correct choice.
Option D:
Found is a past tense verb and does not fit grammatically here as it doesn't express an intended action following decide.
7.
CRAWLING IS THE HARDEST EXERCISE I HAD TO DO IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS.
A) FINITE.
B) NON-FINITE.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "CRAWLING IS THE HARDEST EXERCISE I HAD TO DO IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS." contains a verb phrase that is not finite. A finite verb must agree with the subject in person and number, and it can stand alone as a complete predicate. In this sentence, "IS" is a form of the verb "to be," but it does not function as a finite verb because there is no subject before it to which it agrees. Instead, "CRAWLING" functions as the main verb in its non-finite form (gerund).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Finite - Incorrect. The sentence does not contain a finite verb.
Option B:
Non-Finite - Correct. "CRAWLING" is used as a non-finite verb form (gerund).
Option C:
All the above - Incorrect. Only option B is correct for this sentence.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect. Option B is correct.
8.
She plans ..... to the party.
A) To come.
B) Come.
C) Coming.
D) To coming.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A is correct because "to come" functions as a finite verb in the context of planning. In English, when expressing future intentions or plans, we use infinitive verbs (beginning with "to") followed by the base form of the main verb.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the infinitive form "to come" as a finite verb in planning.
Option B:
Incorrect. Lacks the necessary "to" before the base form of the verb, making it non-finite and incomplete for expressing plans.
Option C:
Incorrect. "Coming" is a gerund (verb form used as a noun), not a finite verb in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. Grammatically incorrect, as it contains an unnecessary word "to coming."
9.
Harry really dislikes cleaning the cooker.
A) Non-finite.
B) Finite.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Finite verbs are action words that can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence and take forms to agree with subjects (e.g., singular, plural, past tense). "Dislikes" is a finite verb because it stands alone as the main verb and agrees with the subject "Harry."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Non-finite verbs are not action words that can stand alone. Examples include infinitives (to clean) and participles (cleaning, cleaned). "Dislikes" is a finite verb.
Option B:
Correct. "Dislikes" is a finite verb as it stands alone as the main verb in the sentence and agrees with the subject "Harry."
Option C:
Incorrect. "Dislikes" cannot be both finite and non-finite simultaneously.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
10.
''She is walking to school" is an example of .....
A) Present participle.
B) Past participle.
C) Perfect participle.
D) None of these.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "She is walking to school" uses the present participle form of the verb "walk," which is "walking." Present participles are used with auxiliary verbs like "is, " "am, " or "are" to create continuous tenses.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The sentence uses a present participle ("walking") in the present progressive tense.
Option B:
Incorrect. Past participles are used with auxiliary verbs like "has" or "had," not "is." Examples include "walked" or "been walked."
Option C:
Incorrect. Perfect participles use "have" or "had" before the past participle, such as "has walked" or "had walked."
Option D:
Incorrect. The sentence clearly uses a finite verb form.
11.
The teacher asked me to do this task
A) Finite.
B) Non-finite.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Finite verbs are those that can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence and require an auxiliary verb (such as "is," "are," "was," "were") to form certain tenses, such as the present continuous or past perfect. Non-finite verbs, on the other hand, do not function as the main verb of a clause and include forms like infinitives ("to run"), participles ("running"), and gerunds ("running"). Since the task described does not involve non-finite verbs but rather finite ones (as implied by the teacher's instruction), option B is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Finite verbs are those that can stand alone as the main verb. This is incorrect for the given context.
Option B:
Non-finite verbs do not function as the main verb of a clause and include infinitives, participles, and gerunds. This is correct but does not apply to the task described.
Option C:
All the above includes both finite and non-finite verbs, which is incorrect for this context.
Option D:
None of the above is incorrect since option B correctly describes the task's nature but in terms of non-finite verbs rather than finite ones.
12.
Jason says he often avoids ..... money because he can never refuse his friends even when he's short of cash himself.
A) Lending.
B) Lent.
C) Lend.
D) To lend.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence requires a verb that functions as the main action, which is "lending" in this context. Since Jason avoids an activity (lending money), the base form of the verb without any additional inflections is used.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses the base form of the verb as a noun, fitting the sentence structure.
Option B:
Incorrect. Past tense does not fit the context of avoiding an action.
Option C:
Incorrect. Infinitive without "to" does not fit the context here.
Option D:
Incorrect. Infinitive with "to" does not fit the context here.
13.
Identify the finite verb in the following sentence: "She sings beautifully."
A) Sings.
B) Beautifully.
C) She.
D) None.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The finite verb in the sentence "She sings beautifully" is
sings
. A finite verb is a main verb that can stand alone as the predicate of a sentence and agrees with its subject in person and number. In this case, "sings" is the finite verb because it expresses an action and agrees with the subject "she."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Sings" is the finite verb.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Beautifully" is an adverb modifying the verb, not a finite verb.
Option C:
Incorrect. "She" is the subject pronoun, not a verb.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
14.
Which sentence uses a participle correctly?
A) The bark dog kept us awake.
B) The barking dog kept us awake.
C) The barks dog kept us awake.
D) The barked dog kept us awake.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B uses a participle correctly. "Barking" is a present participle form of the verb "to bark," and it functions as an adjective modifying "dog." This construction effectively describes the dog's action, making the sentence grammatically correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect use of "bark" as a noun instead of a participle.
Option C:
Incorrect use of "barks," which is in singular third-person present tense and does not function as an adjective here.
Option D:
Incorrect use of "barked," which is past tense and does not fit the context of describing a continuous action.
15.
The ..... artist is famous worldwide.
A) Paint.
B) To paint.
C) Painting.
D) Painted.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) Painting.
In the sentence "The painting artist is famous worldwide," the word "painting" functions as a noun and serves as the subject of the sentence, making it a finite verb. A finite verb must agree with its subject in person and number, which this option satisfies.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"Paint" is an infinitive form and does not function as a subject.
Option B:
"To paint" is also an infinitive form and cannot be the subject of a sentence.
Option C:
"Painting" is a noun that can act as a finite verb, agreeing with the singular subject "artist."
Option D:
"Painted" is a past tense verb and does not fit grammatically in this context.
16.
A verb is considered "finite" when it:
A) Shows tense and agrees with the subject.
B) Is always in the past tense.
C) Does not change form.
D) Is used only in questions.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Finite verbs show tense and agree with the subject, which is a defining characteristic of finite verbs in English grammar. This means that the form of the verb changes based on the time it refers to (past, present, future) and also matches the number and person of the subject.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Finite verbs display tense and agree with their subjects.
Option B:
Incorrect. Not all finite verbs are in past tense; they can be present or future as well.
Option C:
Incorrect. Finite verbs do change form to match tense and subject agreement.
Option D:
Incorrect. The use of a verb in questions does not determine its finiteness; finite verbs can appear in any sentence type.
17.
Choose the correct finite verb to complete the sentence:'If it rains, we ..... inside.' (stay/staying)
A) Stays.
B) Stay.
C) Stayin.
D) Stayed.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct finite verb to complete the sentence is "Stay" (Option B). In an if-clause, the main clause uses the simple future tense formed with 'will + base form of verb'. Here, we use 'we will stay' which simplifies to 'we stay' in informal contexts.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"Stays" is incorrect because it does not match the subject-verb agreement and tense required for the main clause.
Option B:
"Stay" is correct as explained above.
Option C:
"Stayin" is not a valid form of the verb in English.
Option D:
"Stayed" would be incorrect because it indicates past tense, which does not fit the context of the sentence.
18.
Explain why "to play" in the sentence "He likes to play chess" is a non-finite verb.
A) Because it shows tense and subject.
B) Because it does not show tense or agree with the subject.
C) Because it is the main verb.
D) Because it is a modal verb.
Show Answer
Explanations:
In the sentence "He likes to play chess," the verb "to play" is a non-finite verb because it does not show tense and does not agree with the subject in person or number. Non-finite verbs, such as infinitives (e.g., "to play"), gerunds (e.g., "playing"), and participles (e.g., "playing"), do not function as main verbs that carry out these grammatical roles.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. The verb does not show tense or agree with the subject.
Option B:
Correct. The verb "to play" is an infinitive and thus a non-finite verb, lacking both tense and agreement with the subject.
Option C:
Incorrect. The verb functions as a complement to the main verb "likes," making it finite in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. Modal verbs express necessity or possibility (e.g., can, could, must) and are not present in the sentence.
19.
In the sentence 'They have completed the project, ' which verb is finite?
A) Have.
B) Completed.
C) They.
D) Project.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Finite verbs are main (or full) verbs that can stand alone in a sentence and express complete action or state. In the sentence 'They have completed the project,' the verb 'have' is not finite because it functions as an auxiliary verb, helping to form the present perfect tense with another verb ('completed'). The verb 'completed' is finite as it stands alone and expresses the main action.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. 'Have' in this sentence is not a finite verb but an auxiliary verb.
Option B:
Correct. 'Completed' is the finite verb, expressing the main action of the sentence.
Option C:
Incorrect. 'They' is a subject pronoun and not a verb at all.
Option D:
Incorrect. 'Project' is a noun and not a verb.
20.
Which sentence contains the comma splice?
A) I think he's in love. He acts so weird now.
B) I think he's in love, he acts so weird now.
C) I think he's in love because he acts so weird now.
D) Since he acts so weird now, I think he's in love.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B contains a comma splice because it joins two independent clauses, "I think he's in love" and "he acts so weird now," with only a comma, without using appropriate conjunctions like "and" or "but."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
No comma splice. Two independent clauses are connected by the coordinating conjunction "because."
Option B:
Comma splice. Uses a comma to join two independent clauses without an appropriate conjunction.
Option C:
Correctly uses "because" to connect the two independent clauses, avoiding a comma splice.
Option D:
Correctly uses "since" to connect the two independent clauses, avoiding a comma splice.
21.
Which of these are non-finite verbs?
A) Had been eating, will be eating.
B) Is eating, eats.
C) Eating, to eat.
D) Was eating, ate.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Non-finite verbs are not conjugated for tense and do not change form based on the subject of a sentence. They include infinitives (to eat), gerunds (eating), and participles (had been eating, being eaten).
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Both "Had been eating" and "will be eating" are finite verb forms as they indicate specific tenses.
Option B:
"Is eating" is a present continuous tense, making it a finite verb. "Eats" is the simple present tense, also finite.
Option C:
Both "Eating" and "to eat" are non-finite verbs as they do not change form based on subject or tense.
Option D:
"Was eating" is a past continuous tense, making it a finite verb. "Ate" is the simple past tense, also finite.
22.
..... (see) the tiny gift, she was frustrated
A) Saw.
B) Seeing.
C) See.
D) To see.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence requires a verb that is in the present participle form (gerund) to function as the object of the preposition "by." The correct answer, "Seeing," fits this requirement and maintains the sentence's grammatical structure.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"Saw" is a past tense verb and does not fit as an object of a preposition.
Option B:
"Seeing" is the correct present participle form, functioning as the gerund in this context.
Option C:
"See" is an infinitive verb and does not function correctly here.
Option D:
"To see" is an infinitive phrase and does not fit as the object of a preposition in this sentence structure.
23.
Identify the Non-finite form of verb from the following sentences.The boys wanted to attack their food, but they remembered their manners.
A) The boys.
B) To attack.
C) Remembered.
D) Wanted.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The non-finite form of a verb is an infinitive, gerund, or participle that does not function as the main verb in a sentence. In this case, "To attack" (Option B) is an infinitive and functions as part of the phrase "wanted to attack," which is used as a purpose clause modifying "The boys." This makes it non-finite.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
The boys are the subject of the sentence, making them finite.
Option B:
Correct. "To attack" is an infinitive and non-finite.
Option C:
"Remembered" is a past tense verb functioning as the main verb in its clause, making it finite.
Option D:
"Wanted" is also a finite verb as it functions as the main verb of its clause.
24.
If a verb is limited by its subject or tense, it is called a .....
A) Non-finite verb.
B) Infinite verb.
C) Finite verb.
D) Participle.
Show Answer
Explanations:
A finite verb is a verb that can stand alone in a sentence and is limited by its subject or tense, indicating the person, number, and tense of the subject. This makes it capable of expressing complete action or state without needing additional words to complete its meaning.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Non-finite verbs are not limited in this way; they include infinitives (to + base verb) and participles.
Option B:
Infinite is not a grammatical term used to describe verbs in English grammar.
Option C:
Correct. Finite verbs are those that can stand alone and are limited by their subject or tense, indicating the person, number, and tense of the subject.
Option D:
Participles are verb forms used as adjectives but do not indicate the subject's person, number, or tense on their own.
25.
Is 'jumping' a finite or non-finite verb in:'He is jumping high.'?
A) Infinitive.
B) Finite.
C) Gerund.
D) Non-finite.
Show Answer
Explanations:
In the sentence "He is jumping high," the verb "jumping" is a non-finite verb because it does not function as the main predicate of the clause, which would require a finite form like "is jump." Instead, "jumping" here acts as an adjective modifying "high."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Infinitive. Incorrect; infinitives begin with 'to' and are not used in this sentence.
Option B:
Finite. Incorrect; finite verbs must be the main predicate of a clause, which "jumping" is not in this case.
Option C:
Gerund. Incorrect; while "jumping" functions as a verb form, it does not function as the subject or object of another verb, so it's not a gerund but rather an adjective here.
Option D:
Non-finite. Correct; "jumping" is used to modify "high," making it non-finite and thus the correct answer.
26.
We hope ..... (present) the rather abstract Go game and AI in a visual context, and initiate dialogues with minimalist art, conceptual art and expressionism.
A) To present.
B) Presenting.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
To present is the infinitive form of the verb "to present," which is a finite verb in this context. The infinitive form is used to introduce the purpose or intention of the action, making it suitable for starting the sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. To present introduces the intended action.
Option B:
Incorrect. Presenting is a gerund and does not introduce the purpose as effectively as an infinitive in this context.
Option C:
Incorrect. All the above would include both correct and incorrect options, which is not applicable here.
Option D:
Incorrect. None of the above is not appropriate since Option A is correct.
27.
What type of nonfinite verb is in the sentence: "Swimming is fun" ?
A) Base form.
B) Participle.
C) Infinitive.
D) Gerund.
Show Answer
Explanations:
A gerund is a verb form that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. In the sentence "Swimming is fun," "swimming" acts as the subject, which makes it a gerund.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Base form refers to the simplest form of a verb (e.g., walk, run). It does not function as a noun in this sentence.
Option B:
Participle is used to describe or modify nouns and can be present (e.g., swimming) or past (e.g., swum), but it functions as an adjective here, not a noun.
Option C:
Infinitive begins with "to" (e.g., to walk). It does not appear in this sentence.
Option D:
Correct. Gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun, which is what "swimming" is in this sentence.
28.
How can you correct: "The man to fix the car is late" ?
A) The man fix the car is late.
B) The man fixing the car is late.
C) The man fixes the car late.
D) The man fixed the car late.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option B is correct because "fixing" is a present participle, which functions as an adjective to describe the man's action of being late. The sentence correctly uses a non-finite verb form (present participle) to modify "the man."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "fix" is not in its proper form here.
Option B:
Correct; uses the present participle "fixing" as a non-finite verb to modify "the man."
Option C:
Incorrect; "fixes" is a finite verb, which does not fit grammatically in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect; "fixed" is past tense and does not fit the present situation described.
29.
Identify the non-finite verb in the sentence:'She decided to leave early.'
A) Leaving.
B) Decided.
C) To leave.
D) To stay.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The non-finite verb in the sentence 'She decided to leave early' is
To leave
. Non-finite verbs are not conjugated according to tense, person, and number, and they do not function as the main verb of a clause. In this case, "to leave" functions as an infinitive phrase modifying "decided."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Leaving is a gerund (a verb form used as a noun), not a non-finite verb in the sentence.
Option B:
Decided is a finite verb, conjugated according to tense and subject. It functions as the main verb of the clause.
Option C:
To leave is an infinitive phrase functioning as a non-finite verb in this sentence.
Option D:
To stay is not present in the given sentence, making it irrelevant to the question.
30.
Finite verbs act as the main verb in the sentence.
A) True.
B) False.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Finite verbs are indeed the main verb in a sentence, serving as the primary action word that expresses a complete thought. They agree with the subject in person and number, making them essential for forming grammatically correct sentences.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Finite verbs act as the main verb in the sentence.
Option B:
Incorrect. Non-finite verbs (such as infinitives or participles) do not serve as the main verb in a sentence.
Option C:
Incorrect. Option A is correct and sufficient.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is no need for an additional option when A is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are finite verbs?
Finite verbs are verbs that can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence and agree with the subject in terms of person and number. They include forms like present tense, past tense, and future tense.
Can finite verbs be used in conditional sentences?
Yes, finite verbs can be used to form conditional sentences. For example, "If I were there, I would help you." Here, "were" and "would" are finite verbs indicating the condition and its result.
How do finite verbs differ from non-finite verbs?
Finite verbs change form to match the subject, while non-finite verbs (like infinitives or participles) remain unchanged and are used as complements, modifiers, or objects in sentences.
Are finite verbs always the main verb in a sentence?
Yes, finite verbs act as the main verb and express complete actions. They are essential for forming sentences that convey clear meaning.
Can finite verbs be used in conjunctions?
Finite verbs can appear in conjunctions, such as "and," "but," or "or," to connect clauses where both parts of the sentence require a verb. For example, "She likes to read and writes poetry."